Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-08-12
Was IL Nfurderf



A group Of officers stood in an Atlanta
bookstore one sultry afternoon in "a, dis
cussing the execution of a batch of desert
ers. 1t was just before the siege. Sher-
man was on the other side Of the Chatta-
hoochee, and as the officers talked the sullen
boom of cannon every now and then inter
rupted their conversation.
But was it murder
This question was uppermost in my mind
rs | listened horror stricken to the running
talk around me. 1t had been remarked
that one of the deserters who had been shot
an hour before was a youth of sixteen
81 felt rather sorry for the boy, said the
captain.
''Oh, it's all right" observed the major.
Discipline must be maintained at any
cost, put in the general.
"Nes, of course" assented the captain.
Beyond a doubt" was the majors com
ment.
Besides, said the general che was no
longer a boy-he was a soldier and when
he deserted he knew the consequences.
Just so, " echoed the others simultane-
ously; but their faces wore a cloudy look
The general picked up Jominis "Art of
War, and spoke of it as a greatly over
rated book
''What is the price of it p he inquired.
Fifteen dollars" replied the bookseller
"Hou see, gentlemen, said the general,
chow these cormorants take advantage of
our misfortunes. Fifteen dollars for book
worth fifty cents -
The military men all glared at the book
seller, who wisely said nothing.
Yes, said the captain, apparently re-
suming his talk 81 was never so affected
in my life as l was when saw that little
fellow shot"
did he finch - asked the major.
mot bit. He was very pale, and his
eyes had that faraway look peculiar to men
who are looking death in the face. He
stood it like a hero; never trembled and
had his wits about him to the last"
Died instantly, didn't he y said the gen
eral.
Yes Four balls through the heart"
$50 much the better he did not suffer, "
and the general picked up ''Mahan on Field
Fortifcations.
Il heard that the boy belonged to a good
family, said the major. HE ran away
from home and joined the army, and fought
| bravely. His desertion was more of little
| escapade than anything else"
IF Sherman was not pressing us so in
formally hard" interrupted the captain,
''he would have been let off A.; but the court
martial just rushed things through, and
there was nobody to look after the boy"
Boom boom thundered the cannon over
the hills at the front.
"Why should anybody look after him Z"
interposed the general. eve must look
after the army and its discipline"
Boom
"The fact is" continued the general,
matters have reached point where we
must make an example of every man who
fails to do his duty"
81 admit it, replied the captain, "but it
makes my blood run cold to slaughter mere
boys"
The general tucked Jominis cart of War"
in his pocket and paid for it. Then he turn
ed around and cleared his throat
Now listen to me, he said impressively.
"You certainly will give me credit for an
average amount of kindness, sympathy and
human feeling, Yet l cannot agree with
| you about that deserter According to all
accounts he was a sensible lad He knew
| his duty as a soldier. He knew that if he
deserted he would be shot. What did he
do When the enemy was marching on,
| threatening this very city, endangering the
existence of the confederacy, he sneaked
| off 10 the woods. Some say he was going
to see his mother. 1t does not matter, He
was a deserter. If we spared him, others
would have to be spared. The army would
| be demoralized. Desertions would be the
order of the day. We had to shoot him as
an example ; it could not be avoided Now
let us drop the subject. know that am
right, and l should like to see any one stand
| up and say that | am wrong.n
Boom boom
The wave Of thunderous sound rolled
| tba .,,ls ,tt, g.
listen.
Just then a light wagon covered with dust
and evidently from the country stopped in
front of the store. Two women alighted
and came in. One was quite young, and
the other, who was old enough TO be her
mother, leaned on her arm
Have you an evening paper ~ the young
woman asked the bookseller.
He handed one to her, and the old wom-
an, arranging her spectacles glanced ner-
vously over it.
Eyes, it is true that there was an execu-
tion here to-day" she whispered hurriedly
TO her companion.
Boom
For some reason the officers lapsed into
an embarrassed silence The major with
his index finger commenced drawing forti-
iications ON a mapo Georgia The captain
looked mOodlly at the nOOf. Inc general
pulled Jominis "Art of War from his
pocket and then thrust it back again,
"Oh, mercy ~ exclaimed the young wo-
man in low tone, ''those people told us
the truth, then ~
ooh, my God My poor murdered boy ~
So wild, unearthly and piercing was the
cry that every man in the room started in
alarm
The old woman had fallen back in a chair
gasping for breath, with her face as pale as
death.
Her companion gently famed her until
she laid her grey head on her hand and sob
bed aloud
Turning to the sympathetic and silent
spectators the young woman pointed TO the
paragraph in the paper and said
1T was her boy-her only son. The pa
per calls it military justice we call it mur-
der
The general gradually moved toward the
door. His head was bowed and his hands
trembled AS soon as he got outside he
walked off at a rapid pace. The major
made several Intellectual attempts 10 build a
strong redoubt with his fnger-tip on the
map of Georgia, but suddenly collapsed and